The American Spectator

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Political Hay

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Time and again, conservatives have been able to cross the finish line first because we had not only the facts on our side, but also because we worked hard and spoke up. This coming year should be no different.

Right now, conservatives are very concerned that even though we ostensibly control both the Congress and the Executive Branch, the rate of growth in discretionary domestic spending is what would be expected to occur if the situation were exactly the opposite and the liberals were in power.

With all the waste, duplication, and fraud within the Federal Government, discretionary domestic spending just climbs and climbs.

Fortunately, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) are two conscientious legislators who know this runaway spending -- left unchecked -- is just sticking our nation's young people with a big IOU that they will end up paying.

Their bill would create a Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies (CARFA), comprised of twelve members that would be charged specifically with exposing those agencies and departments and programs whose work is duplicative, wasteful, inefficient, or outdated. Then, the members would compile a report containing a list of recommendations for reforming the structure of the Federal Government and the operations of its departments, agencies, and programs, submit it to Congress, and an up or down vote would be taken by both houses without amendments.

In short, the Congress would be voting "up or down" to continue or to stop wasteful spending.

Remember: if there is a will and a bill then there is a way.

Thanks to Senator Brownback and Representative Tiahrt, we have one of the necessary ingredients. Now, we need to find the will to bring this legislation to the consciousness of decision-makers.

One thing that you can do is to make sure that your Congressman and Senators know about new ideas to brake government spending.

Also, be sure to let your state legislators who are concerned about stopping wasteful spending at the Federal level know about the Brownback-Tiahrt CARFA bill. Resolutions passed at the state level about this measure would be helpful in raising awareness about a powerful idea to stop runaway government spending. And there's no reason why your state government cannot have its own CARFA-style commission to root out waste and duplication too.

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Health Care, NATO